28 February 2016

We took a drive out west today, a pretty quiet late winter Sunday................

There were quite a few White Tailed Eagles around, the one above was very close but as is often the case my settings remained the same as the last time I had used the camera and weren't appropriate for today's weather and light. Lightroom rescued them a little but they aren't sharp at all......................

Also around were 3 Pacific or Black Throated Diver (too far off to ID), Bullfinch, Brent Goose, Black Necked Grebe, Great Egret, Whooper Swan as well as the usual common winter ducks and gulls..............

15 February 2016

We went up to Yakumo today but although some eagles of both species weere still present the blizzards made pictures out of the question. Sawara was as bitterly cold as I can ever recall it being and there were no birds at all (except a briefly seen medium sized raptor, probably a Goshawk).

The Ural Owl and Marsh Tit above were in Onuma. the owl has been cordoned off believe it or not. There is yellow tape (the kind at crime incidents) tied between the trees in fromt of it as well as 2 notices in Japanese asking people not to go near. When we drove past there were three retired Japanese men taking photos with their cellphones and one of them was right near the owl tree, he had totally ignored all the (obvious) warnings not to go near. There were also footprints in the snow right up to the tree. They sheepishly left as I glared at them. WTF? People can be so stupid sometimes.

Actually I'd heard that someone had scared it off a couple of weeks ago, this was the first time I'd seen it in a while.

Also around of note were Smew, White Tailed Eagle and White Backed Woodpecker............

14 February 2016

Well after several bright sunny days when I was too busy to go out of the house my weekend started with rain (!) and fog. The rainwater is sitting on top of the ice..................this will get nasty in a day or two.

Very windy too, the above Glaucous Winged Gull was sheltering in a harbour to the east of town. Only common stuff about and no photos at all; White Tailed Eagle, Harlequin Duck, Pelagic Cormorant, Black Necked Grebe, Brent Goose and Great Egret...............

11 February 2016

In the morning that day (as you can see) the light was fantastic but it didn't do anything. On the afternoon when the light had become very poor ir sudenly became very active.................

A real shame it looks like the individual that appeared this year in the same place only stayed very briefly and AFAIK only one person was lucky enought to see it. Still, it may return, you never know.